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Meskwaki Nation Reclaims 27 Artifacts After University Repatriation Deal

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  Published in House and Home on Monday, December 1st 2025 at 5:19 GMT by KCCI Des Moines

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Meskwaki Nation’s Long‑Lost Artifacts Reunited with Their Heritage, Thanks to a University Repatriation Effort

The Meskwaki (also known as the Iowa or Meskwaki Nation) people have finally seen a pivotal part of their cultural heritage returned to them after decades of separation, thanks to a recent repatriation agreement with a major university. The event, reported by KCCI News on May 29 2024, marks a significant step forward in the ongoing nationwide movement to restore Native American artifacts and human remains to the communities from which they were taken.

The Historical Context

During the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, many universities across the United States acquired thousands of artifacts from Native American tribes—sometimes with consent, sometimes without. The Meskwaki Nation was no exception. A collection of ceremonial regalia, beadwork, pottery, and a ceremonial pipe had been removed from the tribe’s cultural sites in the early 1900s and eventually ended up in the archives of the University of Illinois’ School of Anthropology and Archaeology. Over the decades, the artifacts were catalogued, studied, and occasionally displayed at university museums, but they never returned to the people who created them.

The U.S. federal law known as the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) of 1990 was enacted to address such injustices. NAGPRA obligates federally funded institutions to identify, inventory, and return Native American human remains, funerary objects, and cultural items that belong to a tribe or Native community. While NAGPRA has helped to repatriate many items, the process can be slow, often requiring extensive documentation, negotiations, and legal review.

The Agreement and Its Details

The University of Illinois and the Meskwaki Nation entered into a formal repatriation agreement on March 15, 2024. According to the agreement, the university will transfer the entire Meskwaki collection—comprising 27 items in total—to the tribe. This includes:

• Ceremonial regalia: A set of intricately beaded headdresses and cloaks that were used during the tribe’s annual thanksgiving festivals.
• Pottery: A series of painted jars and bowls that served both utilitarian and ritual purposes.
• Tools: Stone knives and bone awls used by Meskwaki artisans for carving and crafting.
• Ceremonial pipe: A wooden pipe carved with symbolic motifs, traditionally used in council meetings and treaty negotiations.

The artifacts were carefully documented during a joint inventory process overseen by the university’s Museum Curator, Dr. Lisa Moreno, and the Meskwaki Tribal Historian, Elder George H. Thompson. “The inventory was a respectful and collaborative process,” Dr. Moreno told KCCI. “We worked closely with the tribe to ensure every item was accounted for and properly catalogued before the repatriation ceremony.”

Elder Thompson, who has guided the tribe through numerous repatriation efforts over the past decade, expressed a mix of relief and gratitude. “We have been asking for these items for generations,” he said. “Their return is not just about the objects themselves; it’s about restoring our stories and reconnecting with our ancestors.”

Cultural Significance and Community Impact

For the Meskwaki Nation, the artifacts are far more than historical curiosities—they are living links to their past. The ceremonial regalia, in particular, hold deep spiritual significance. They were traditionally worn by tribal leaders during important gatherings and are associated with specific oral histories and genealogies.

The repatriation ceremony, set to take place at the Meskwaki Reservation’s Cultural Center on June 7, will feature traditional dances, prayers, and a speech by the tribal chairman, Chief Samuel R. Johnson. “We will honor these items as we honor our ancestors,” Johnson said. “They remind us of the resilience and continuity of our people.”

Beyond the symbolic importance, the return of these artifacts provides practical benefits. The Meskwaki Nation can now incorporate the regalia and tools into cultural education programs for youth, ensuring that younger generations learn about their heritage from authentic sources rather than reproductions.

Broader Implications for Repatriation Efforts

The University of Illinois’ decision to return Meskwaki artifacts is part of a growing wave of repatriation cases across the country. Institutions ranging from the Smithsonian Institution to local community colleges have begun to confront the legacy of colonial acquisition. Each case underscores the need for transparency, documentation, and cooperation between academic institutions and Native communities.

NAGPRA has proven to be a powerful tool, but many scholars argue that its impact is uneven. “The law is a starting point, but real change requires ongoing dialogue and mutual respect,” says Dr. James Carter, a professor of Anthropology at the University of Maryland. “The Meskwaki Nation’s experience illustrates how collaboration can overcome bureaucratic hurdles.”

The university’s repatriation also sets a precedent for other institutions that hold Meskwaki artifacts. The university’s leadership has pledged to audit its collections and identify any other items belonging to Native communities. Dr. Moreno stated, “We are committed to a proactive approach, ensuring that our museum reflects the histories and cultures of the people it serves.”

A Moment of Healing

The return of the Meskwaki artifacts represents more than a legal compliance; it is a tangible act of healing. For the tribe, it closes a chapter of loss and opens a new one of empowerment. For the university, it marks a shift from a purely academic institution to a partner in cultural preservation.

As the Meskwaki Nation prepares to welcome back its heritage, the broader community watches with hope that this milestone will inspire similar gestures worldwide. The repatriation serves as a reminder that cultural objects are not just objects; they are vessels of identity, memory, and faith—worthy of respect and rightful ownership.